Carlos Tevez can win us the title! Manchester City fans buoyed by striker's u-turn

21 December 2010 01:56

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Manchester City supporters are convinced Carlos Tevez's U-turn will provide the impetus for Roberto Mancini's team to mount a sustained bid for the Barclays Premier League title.

News of Tevez's decision to formally withdraw his transfer request was boomed out on speakers across City Square - the main meeting point for fans outside the City Of Manchester Stadium - before Monday night's game with Everton and, predictably, it was rapturously received.

During his stand-off with the club, some had thought it would be Tevez's loss had he gone through with his decision to leave, but the general consensus here was that City can now be viewed as credible title challengers with him on board.

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'This is absolutely great news,' said Bob Holden, 54, who had travelled up from Norfolk for the game.

'It's been a long week but this makes it all worthwhile. We can go for the title now, as I'm not so sure we'd have been able to do it without him. He has been top drawer since he has been here.'

On the ball: Tevez has decided to withdraw his transfer request

The fact City stressed in the statement they released late in the afternoon that Tevez had 'expressed his absolute commitment' was significant, and season-ticket holder Colin Hinley, 62, from Dukinfield, said: 'I'm so pleased that everything has been turned around. We have taken him to our hearts and it has never made a difference that he used to play for (Manchester) United. He's one of us.'

Byron Banthorpe received a ticket for Monday night's game as a Christmas present and had spent much of the day battling the elements to get to Manchester from Ipswich. Hearing the latest news made the journey worthwhile.

'I'm glad he has said he is happy to stay. We all know he has had problems with Mancini but it has given everyone a lift. Had he left, it would have been difficult to replace him.'

Mark Ingle, a 47-year-old father of two from Fleet, Hampshire, feels it would have taken some extraordinary transfer dealings to compensate had Tevez left in January.

'I think we would have needed to buy (Lionel) Messi and get (Cristiano) Ronaldo to sit on the bench,' he said.

'Carlos is so critical to what we have been doing.'

Corrine Stanley, 17, from Beswick said it was 'the best news I've ever heard', but Graham Dyson, 53, was more pragmatic.

Centre of attention: Not all Manchester City fans are convinced by Tevez' decision to stay put

He said: 'He has had problems before with contracts and we have seen these sudden changes of heart - sometimes there is not a lot you can do,' said the season ticket holder from Denton.

'But I'm pleased because he is a grafter - and he has got that bit of magic.'

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